Simo Häyhä, born on December 17, 1905, in the town of Rautjärvi, Finland, will be remembered as one of history’s most famous snipers. During the Winter War of the Cold War era, he fought against Soviet forces in Finland and earned the nickname “White Death.”
During the Winter War of 1939-1940, when the Soviet Union attacked Finland, Simo Häyhä joined the Finnish army. Clad in white ghillie suits and snow camouflage, Häyhä concealed himself, using his Finnish Mosin-Nagant M/28-30 rifle to eliminate enemy soldiers from long distances.
Häyhä’s sniper skills were renowned for disturbing the enemy with single shots and quietly working to disrupt their movements. During the war, he estimatedly killed 505 Soviet soldiers and rendered a total of 542 enemy soldiers ineffective.
However, at one point in the conflict, he was shot in the head and severely wounded, requiring a lengthy recovery period. After the war, he returned to farming and lived a long life. He passed away at the age of 96 in 2002.
Simo Häyhä immortalized himself in history with his extraordinary sniper abilities and bravery during the war. His struggle for Finland’s independence and resistance against Soviet forces make him unforgettable.
